Changes to Oklahoma teacher bonus legislation moves forward
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Legislation targeting the Oklahoma teacher shortage would keep bonuses in place for the long haul. House Bill 1281 would reform the “Return to Teach Signing Bonus Act.”
"What this aims to do is simply take a program that has proven to be very successful and to put it in statute,” said Representative Chad Caldwell, R-Enid. “As opposed to just letting it continue at the direction of whoever is the state superintendent."
The bill, discussed on Monday, would drop teacher bonuses from the previous amount of $50,000, spread over several years, to $35,000 which would be paid in one lump sum.
"It's a car. It is a nice down payment on a house. It's something that I think really grabs attention, whereas the promise of funding going forward and spread out over periods," said Caldwell.
Lawmakers said around 500 teachers took advantage of the bonus program last year. The goal was to tackle the state’s teacher shortage.
It has not been a flawless program. The state filed a lawsuit after they said at least two teachers were paid in error. The money was clawed back.
"If after the fact it was determined that they were that they were fraudulent in this and take that money back, we should take the money back," said Caldwell.
The measure passed the House Appropriations and Budget Education Subcommittee by a 8-2 vote. It will now move to the House floor.
Another bill that was up for debate on Monday would require schools to have a fitness assessment of each student.
"It would be done once a year annually, and it actually tracks progress parentally over time, once these assessments are made," said Representative Danny Sterling, R-Tecumseh.
He said it would be a health initiative and would require zero funding from the state.
"Focusing on getting people up and moving is one of the best things we can do for mental health standpoint,” said Sterling. “You can't get that in a bottle."
Lawmakers questioning the bill worried it would cause image issues for students, especially if the results landed in the wrong hands.
"Let me emphasize, this is sent only to the parents,” said Sterling. “It's not shared with any of the classrooms." Sterling said he had been working on the bill for years alongside the Department of Health and the Department of Education. It passed through committee 8-2 and will now go to the House floor.